Merchandise display system

ABSTRACT

A plurality of pairs of opposed and vertically spaced guide rails are provided on the right and left sides of frame rods provided at the front and rear sides of a frame unit. Each guide rail has a cut portion provided at an appropriate intermediate position on the lower side thereof. A free tray adapted to be mounted on a pair of opposed right and left guide rails has projections at appropriate positions on the right and left side ends of the bottom thereof. The projections are engageable with the cut portions of the right and left guide rails. Individual trays are placed in parallel on the free tray. Each individual tray has a high side wall on one longitudinally extending side thereof and a low guide wall on the other longitudinally extending side. Each individual tray has a mount provided in a front end portion thereof and a slider slidable along a longitudinal slot rail provided in the center of the bottom thereof. A work-table plate is fitted in table guides provided on the lower side of a base plate to which the bottom portions of the frame rods of the frame unit are secured.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a merchandise display system for displaying merchandise such as packs of cigarettes.

2. Discussion of Related Art

In displaying merchandise such as packs of cigarettes for sale at stores such as convenience stores, it has heretofore been common practice to place various kinds of merchandise items in parallel on trays in a three-dimensional display case. Techniques relating to the conventional merchandise display method are disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Publication Nos. Sho 59-218113 and 2005-237566, Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. Hei 1-86856, and Japanese Registered Utility Model Nos. 3115289 and 3118700.

There is, however, no technical document relating to a merchandise display system in which a frame unit section, a tray section and a work-table section are integrated collectively. The present invention has been made in view of the fact that there is no merchandise display system in which the frame unit section, tray section and work-table section are rationally constructed in correlation with each other.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a merchandise display system that meets users' needs.

The present invention provides a merchandise display system including a frame unit, a tray section, and a work-table section. The frame unit includes frame rods each having a rectangular frame shape as a whole. The frame rods are provided at the front and rear sides of the frame unit with an appropriate spacing therebetween. A plurality of pairs of opposed right and left guide rails are provided on the right and left sides, respectively, of the frame rods at appropriate spacings in the vertical direction to extend between the frame rods. The right and left guide rails each have a cut portion at an appropriate intermediate position on the lower side thereof. The tray section includes a wide free tray mounted on one of the pairs of opposed right and left guide rails of the frame unit. The free tray has projections at appropriate intermediate positions on the right and left side ends of the bottom thereof. The projections are engageable with the cut portions of the right and left guide rails. Narrow individual trays are placed side by side in a row in the free tray. The individual trays each have a high side wall on one longitudinally extending side thereof and a low guide wall on the other longitudinally extending side thereof. Each individual tray has an inverted V-shaped mount provided in a front end portion thereof. A longitudinal slot rail is provided in the center of the bottom of each individual tray. A slider is provided slidably along the slot rail. The slider has an abutting plate with a shaft on the back thereof. A spring band is secured at one end thereof to the front end of the slot rail and wound at the other end thereof around the shaft on the abutting plate of the slider. The work-table section includes a base plate to which the bottom portions of the frame rods of the frame unit are fixedly secured. A pair of opposed table guides are formed on the lower side of the base plate. A work-table plate is fitted in the table guides. The work-table plate has a handle on the front end thereof. The work-table plate further has an abutting plate on the back side thereof so that when the work-table plate is pulled out, the abutting plate abuts against a part of the table guides to stop the work-table plate from being further pulled out. The merchandise display system further includes joining members provided at appropriate positions on the top or bottom of each of the frame rods of the frame unit.

In the merchandise display system according to the present invention, cut portions are provided at appropriate intermediate positions on the lower sides of the right and left guide rails extending between the front and rear frame rods constituting a frame unit, and projections provided at appropriate intermediate positions on the right and left side ends of the bottom of the free tray are slidingly engaged in the cut portions, respectively. Therefore, the free tray can constantly keep a stationary state even when accommodating a large number of individual trays therein. Accordingly, merchandise can be displayed securely.

The cut portions of the guide rails and the projections of the free tray may be provided at slightly offcenter positions. This positional relationship makes it possible to vary the extent of projection of merchandise items on the individual trays in the free tray. Accordingly, it is possible not only to give variation to the displaying effect but also to modify the configuration of the tray section according to the conditions of the installation space.

Regarding the internal structure of the individual trays of the tray section, each individual tray has a high side wall on one longitudinally extending side thereof and an extremely low side wall on the other longitudinally extending side thereof, thereby facilitating the removing and replenishing of merchandise displayed on the individual tray.

The abutting plate of the slider that is slidable along the slot rail provided on the bottom of each individual tray is constantly pressed by the spring band. Therefore, the foremost merchandise item is always placed on the inverted V-shaped mount at the front end of the individual tray and hence easily removable.

Because the work-table section is installed stably at the bottom of the frame unit, the work-table plate can be smoothly and freely pulled out and pushed in relative to the base plate through the table guides. Accordingly, it is possible to perform rapidly and safely the operation of placing merchandise to be displayed on the individual trays.

Frame units can be easily and reliably stacked in a plurality of stages through the joining members provided on the top and bottom sides of the frame rods constituting the frame units.

When the merchandise display system according to the present invention is to be installed in place, first, one frame unit is placed, and then the joining members provided on the bottom sides of the frame rods of another frame unit are joined to the joining members provided on the top sides of the frame rods of the first-placed frame unit. In this way, the frame rods are connected to form a stack of two to four frame units.

Free trays in each frame unit are secured to the right and left guide rails of the frame unit by engagement between the cut portions and the projections. In view of the displaying effect, the extent to which the free trays and the individual trays project from the frame unit is adjusted so that the front and rear faces of the free and individual trays align flush with each other, respectively.

For merchandise items accommodated in the individual trays of the tray section, the displaying manner is not fixed but can be changed in a variety of ways. Therefore, each individual user should preferably devise various schemes of displaying merchandise according to the kind thereof.

The work-table plate can be freely pulled out and pushed in for use during the operation of displaying merchandise or on other occasion.

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the associated figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following detailed description can be more fully understood when considered in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a merchandise display system according to the present invention, showing an example of use thereof;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a frame unit of the merchandise display system according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the merchandise display system according to the present invention, showing another example of use thereof;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a free tray of the merchandise display system according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an individual tray of the merchandise display system according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a partially-cutaway perspective view of an individual tray of the merchandise display system according to the present invention;

FIGS. 8 a and 8 b are sectional views of an essential part of the merchandise display system according to the present invention, showing the way in which a free tray is fitted into guide rails;

FIGS. 9 a and 9 b are sectional views of another essential part of the merchandise display system according to the present invention, showing the way in which a work-table plate fitted in a base plate is pulled out through table guides;

FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view of an essential part of the merchandise display system according to the present invention, showing the work-table plate and the base plate that are in the position shown in FIG. 9 b;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the merchandise display system according to the present invention, showing an example of use thereof;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a modified tray usable in the merchandise display system according to the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another free tray of the merchandise display system according to present invention;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a connector usable in the merchandise display system according to the present invention; and

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the merchandise display system according to the present invention, showing an example in which it is in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The merchandise display system according to the present invention will be explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The merchandise display system according to the present invention substantially comprises the following three member groups: a frame unit section; a tray section; and a work-table section.

The frame unit section includes a plurality of frame units having different lengthwise and breadthwise dimensions.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each frame unit includes frame rods 1 each having a rectangular frame shape as a whole. The frame rods 1 are provided at the front and rear sides of the frame unit with an appropriate spacing therebetween. A plurality of pairs of opposed right and left guide rails 2 with a U-shaped sectional configuration are provided on the right and left sides, respectively, of the front and rear frame rods 1 at appropriate spacings in the vertical direction to extend between the frame rods 1. The lower side 3 of each guide rail 2 is provided with a cut portion 4 at an intermediate, offcenter position.

The bottom portion 1′ of each frame rod 1 is fixedly secured to a base plate 5. The base plate 5 has a pair of opposed table guides 6 with a U-shaped sectional configuration formed at the right and left side ends thereof. As shown in FIGS. 9 a and 9 b, the base plate 5 is closed at the rear end thereof, as shown by reference numeral 7, and has an opening 8 at the front end thereof. Each table guide 6 has a bent portion 9 extending downward from the upper edge of the opening 8.

As original parts of the frame units, for example, frame units respectively having two and three guide rails 2 on each side are prepared regardless of whether the breadth is relatively large or small. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, detachable joining members 10 are provided at appropriate positions on the top and bottom sides of the frame rods 1 of frame units, which form upper and lower frame units when stacked, thereby joining together a plurality of frame units stacked up.

Accordingly, four different types of frame units, for example, are prepared as parts of the frame unit section. These parts are selected and set according to the conditions of the installation space.

For the horizontal continuity and expansion of the system, frame units are arranged to be forwardly or rearwardly displaceable relative to each other when installed, thereby achieving space saving, as shown in FIG. 11.

The tray section includes large and wide free trays 11 that are mounted on the right and left guide rails 2 of the frame unit. The tray section further includes relatively narrow individual trays 15. Three to five individual trays 15 are placed side by side in a row in each free tray 11.

The individual trays 15 include short and long individual trays that are prepared according to the number of items of merchandise to be displayed. For cigarettes, for example, the short and long individual trays are adapted to be capable of accommodating 7 and 13 packs of cigarettes, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 4, each free tray 11 has a pocket wall 12 of low height on the front side thereof and is open above the pocket wall 12. The free tray 11 has walls 13 of the same height on the right, left and rear sides thereof.

The free tray 11 further has projections 14 at respective offcenter positions on the right and left side ends of the bottom thereof. When the free tray 11 is inserted into the accommodating space defined between a pair of opposed right and left guide rails 2 attached to the frame rods 1 of the frame unit, the right and left projections 14 engage the cut portions 4 of the lower sides 3 of the right and left guide rails 2, respectively, thereby enabling the free tray 11 to be mounted stably, as shown in FIGS. 8 a and 8 b. In this stationary position, the respective front sides of the free trays 11 and the individual trays 15 project outward from the front side of the frame unit, being flush with each other.

As shown in FIG. 5, each individual tray 15 has side walls 16 of necessary height on one longitudinally extending side and front and rear sides thereof. On the other longitudinally extending side of the individual tray 15, a low guide wall 17 is provided to define a space 18 thereabove, thereby facilitating the removing and replenishing of merchandise displayed on the individual tray 15.

Card pockets 19 are provided on the front and rear sides (i.e. laterally extending sides) of the individual tray 15. Display plates with arbitrary letters, numerals, etc. written thereon are inserted into the card pockets 19. As shown in FIG. 6, dust outlets 20 are provided in the respective bottoms of the card pockets 19.

As shown in FIG. 5, a longitudinally extending narrow slot rail 21 is provided in the center of the bottom of the individual tray 15.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, inverted V-shaped mounts 22 are formed on both sides of the slot rail 21 at the inner side of one of the card pockets 19 that is located at the front end of the individual tray 15, so that the foremost one of merchandise items, e.g. cigarette packs, is higher in position than the others that press against the back of the foremost merchandise item, thereby enabling the foremost merchandise item to be removed easily.

As shown in FIG. 6, one end of a spring band 23 is secured to the front end of the slot rail 21 between the mounts 22, and the other end of the spring band 23 is wound on a shaft 27 provided between rear side walls 26 of an abutting plate 25 of a slider 24 slidable along the slot rail 21 in the longitudinal direction of the individual tray 15.

The rear side walls 26 of the slider 24 are integrated together at the bottom thereof. U-shaped grooves are formed on the right and left end portions of the bottom of the slider 24. The U-shaped grooves are slidably engaged with the right and left side edges of the slot rail 21. Thus, the slider 24 is longitudinally slidable along the slot rail 21 through the U-shaped grooves.

As shown in FIG. 5, a low step 28 is provided on the rear end of the individual tray 15. The slider 24 comes to rest when the U-shaped grooves thereof engage the step 28.

Regarding the above-described tray section, the drawings show that the large and wide free trays 11 each accommodate five individual trays 15 in parallel (see FIG. 1), and that the small and narrow free trays 11 each accommodate three individual trays 15 in parallel (see FIG. 3).

In addition, a modified tray 30 (see FIG. 12) comprising a series of triangular inclined step portions 29 with a triangular configuration as seen in a side view may be prepared for individual trays 15 to be placed on a free tray 11 of the tray section. The modified tray 30 allows a special display method. That is, the modified tray 30 is placed on a free tray 11, and individual trays 15 are placed on the triangular inclined step portions 29. Then, merchandise items are slantingly displayed on the individual trays 15. Individual trays 15 to be placed on the inclined step portions 29 of the modified tray 30 may have some different colors. This enables an advertising scheme of emphasizing particular items of displayed merchandise.

The work-table section has work-table plates prepared in conformity in size to the frame unit section and the tray section, each comprising parts of two different sizes, i.e. large and small frame units, and large and small free trays. Each work-table is installed on the base plate 5 at the bottom of the above-described frame unit.

That is, as shown in FIG. 15, a work-table plate 31 is inserted into the table guides 6 of the base plate 5. The work-table plate 31 can be pulled out and pushed in toward and away from the opening 8 of the base plate 5. A handle 32 is provided on the front end of the work-table plate 31.

As shown in FIGS. 9 a, 9 b and 10, a lower abutting plate 33 is provided at the rear end of the back side of the work-table plate 31. When the work-table plate 31 is pulled out toward the opening 8 of the base plate 5, the lower abutting plate 33 abuts against stoppers 34 provided at the respective front ends of the lower sides of the right and left table guides 6 to prevent the work-table plate 31 from undesirably falling out of the base plate 5.

Upper abutting plates 35 are provided to stand on the right and left sides of the top rear end of the work-table plate 31. When the work-table plate 31 is pulled out toward the opening 8 of the base plate 5, the upper abutting plates 35 abut against the bent portion 9 at the front end of the base plate 5, whereby the work-table plate 31 is stably held in a horizontal position.

A cushioning belt 36 is provided on the lower side of the work-table plate 31 to extend forward from the center of the lower abutting plate 33. The cushioning belt 36 serves as a cushioning medium for the work-table plate 31 when suspended by gravity during use.

FIG. 14 shows a connector 37 as an auxiliary member used in addition to the joining members 10 when the frame units are connected together vertically in a large number of stages of a stack.

It should be noted that when the frame units are connected together not only in the vertical direction but also in the horizontal direction, arbitrary connecting members are used to prevent rolling and to keep stability.

When relatively large merchandise items are to be displayed, two rail members 38 are juxtaposed with a spacing therebetween in a large-sized free tray 11, as shown in FIG. 13, and sliders 24 with abutting plates 25 are longitudinally slidably provided on the rail members 38, respectively. One end of a spring band 23 is secured to the back of the abutting plate 25 of each slider 24, thereby allowing the slider 24 to slide longitudinally while constantly pressing against merchandise items with the front side of the abutting plate 25. Examples of merchandise items that may use the free tray 11 equipped with the rail members 38 are canned juice and boxed confectionery.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiments but can be modified in a variety of ways. 

1. A merchandise display system comprising: a frame unit; a tray section; and a work-table section; said frame unit including: frame rods each having a rectangular frame shape as a whole, said frame rods being provided at front and rear sides of said frame unit with an appropriate spacing therebetween; and a plurality of pairs of opposed right and left guide rails, said right and left guide rails being provided on right and left sides, respectively, of said frame rods at appropriate spacings in a vertical direction to extend between said frame rods, said right and left guide rails each having a cut portion at an appropriate intermediate position on a lower side thereof; said tray section including: a wide free tray mounted on one of said pairs of opposed right and left guide rails of said frame unit, said free tray having projections at appropriate intermediate positions on right and left side ends of a bottom thereof, said projections being engageable with the cut portions of said right and left guide rails; and narrow individual trays placed side by side in a row in said free tray; said individual trays each having: a high side wall provided on one longitudinally extending side of the individual tray; a low guide wall provided on the other longitudinally extending side of the individual tray; an inverted V-shaped mount provided in a front end portion of the individual tray; a longitudinal slot rail provided in a center of a bottom of the individual tray; a slider slidable along said slot rail, said slider having an abutting plate with a shaft on a back thereof; and a spring band secured at one end thereof to a front end of said slot rail and wound at the other end thereof around said shaft on the abutting plate of said slider; said work-table section including: a base plate to which bottom portions of the frame rods of said frame unit are fixedly secured; a pair of opposed table guides formed on a lower side of said base plate; and a work-table plate fitted in said table guides, said work-table having a handle on a front end thereof, said work-table plate further having an abutting plate on a back side thereof so that when said work-table plate is pulled out, said abutting plate abuts against a part of said table guides to stop said work-table plate from being further pulled out; said merchandise display system further comprising: joining members provided at appropriate positions on a top or bottom of each of said frame rods of said frame unit.
 2. A merchandise display system according to claim 1, further comprising: a modified tray comprising a series of inclined step portions with a triangular configuration as seen in a side view; wherein said modified tray is placed on said free tray, and said individual trays are placed on the inclined step portions of said modified tray.
 3. A merchandise display system comprising: a frame unit; and a tray section; said frame unit including: frame rods each having a rectangular frame shape as a whole, said frame rods being provided at front and rear sides of said frame unit with an appropriate spacing therebetween; and a plurality of pairs of opposed right and left guide rails, said right and left guide rails being provided on right and left sides, respectively, of said frame rods at appropriate spacings in a vertical direction to extend between said frame rods, said right and left guide rails each having a cut portion at an appropriate intermediate position on a lower side thereof; said tray section including: a wide free tray mounted on one of said pairs of opposed right and left guide rails of said frame unit; said free tray having: projections provided at appropriate intermediate positions on right and left side ends of a bottom of said free tray, said projections being engageable with the cut portions of said right and left guide rails; a pair of rail members juxtaposed with a spacing therebetween in said free tray; an abutting plate provided on a front end of each of said pair of rail members; and a spring band secured at one end thereof to a back of said abutting plate, thereby allowing said abutting plate to slide longitudinally of said free tray while pressing with a front side thereof against items of merchandise displayed on said free tray. 